MANHATTAN — The Riley County Police Department has a new director, Dennis Butler, the current chief of the Ottawa Police Department.
Butler was unanimously approved as the fifth director of the RCPD during Monday’s Riley County Law Board meeting. Butler says he’s thrilled to be coming to Manhattan.
Butler will succeed current director Brad Schoen who is retiring at the end of December. Butler has been chief of police in Ottawa since 2004 and prior to that was worked with the Alexandria, Virginia Police Department for 25 years, retiring in 2004 at the rank of Captain. Butler explains what made Riley County an attractive location.
Law Board Chair Craig Beardsley says Butler made a good impression with his experience.
The transition process begins immediately and Beardsley says he’s confident that the RCPD is in good hands moving forward.
Butler once withdrew from the selection process after a concern arose which he says was addressed quickly by the law board, but didn’t get into specifics. Butler’s hire ends a lengthy, nationwide search for a director after Schoen announced his retirement in February.
